pol2pid political ideas and ideologies
POLITICAL IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES
POL2PID
2016
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
A core subject for second year students undertaking a Politics major, this subject provides an overview of the ways ideology informs our political landscape. The course begins by considering the varied historical meaning of the term ideology. Following this, it examines ideals of human nature and society underpinning a number of influential ideologies. These include liberalism, neoliberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism, nationalism, multiculturalism, religious fundamentalism, and ecologism. In conclusion, the subject considers the claim that the end of the Cold War heralded the 'end of ideology'. We reflect on the merits of this claim in a context of growing social fragmentation and in response to the postmodern rejection of 'grand narratives'.
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorGeorge Vasilev
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites 15 credit points of any first year Politics subject and 15 credit points of any Humanities and Social Sciences subject, or subject coordinator's approval
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects POL3PID
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditions Core subject at second-year level for a politics major in the Bachelor of Arts degree (ABA)
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Available online | Prescribed | LMS | LMS |
| Readings | Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 8th ed | Recommended | Ball, T. & Dagger, R. (eds) | LONGMAN, 2010 |
| Readings | Political Ideologies: An Introduction | Recommended | Heywood, A. | PALGRAVE MACMILLAN 2007 |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Apply political ideologies to the analysis of practical issues
- Activities:
- Teaching & learning activity - students will participate in role plays during tutorials where they respond to certain issues (e.g. taxation, socio-economic inequality, trade tariffs, bill of rights etc.) using one or more of the political ideologies discussed in the course. Assessment - in preparing their essay, students will need to reflect on the practical implications of one or more of the traditional ideologies; the exam will, in part, include questions on more recent political ideologies and the different practical problems to which they attempt to respond.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Writing(Writing)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
02. Demonstrate a capacity to read, interpret, and explain the ideas of a number of important political thinkers
- Activities:
- Teaching & learning activities - tutorial exercise on preparing summaries of theoretical texts, so as to practice expressing abstract arguments clearly. Assessment - the group report includes an individual component where students summarise the arguments of a particular theorist
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
03. Demonstrate an understanding of the historical problems that gave rise to the different ideologies.
- Activities:
- Teaching & learning activity - students will participate in a tutorial activity that discusses a particular problem from the perspective of two or more political ideologies. Assessment - the exam will, in part, include questions on the relation between political ideologies and perceived political crises.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
04. Develop a familiarity with political ideologies, and demonstrate an understanding of their similarities and differences
- Activities:
- Teaching & learning activity - students will participate in regular tutorial activities comparing and contrasting the ideas about human nature and an ideal society that characterise different political ideologies; students participate in a consolidation activity where they are quizzed on their understanding. Assessment - general famliarity with the topic and ability to revise and remember what has been learnt will be tested in an exam.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
- Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
05. Engage in critical, argumentative research on one or more of the traditional political ideologies
- Activities:
- Teaching & learning activity - tutorial exercise where students prepare an essay plan for discussion in class; tutorial exercise on strategies for locating relevant research. Assessment - preparation of a critical research essay that demonstrates a sound knowledge of political ideology.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
06. Produce a group report mapping out the historical senses of ideology
- Activities:
- Teaching & learning activities - tutorial exercise on how to organise groups appropriately; distribution and discussion of marking sheet for the group report. Assessment - group report
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
- Teamwork(Teamwork)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorGeorge Vasilev
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| one 1,500-word exam | 35 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| one 1800-word research essay | 45 | 01, 04, 05 | |
| online activities | 20 | 01, 02, 03, 06 |